Punjab’s revenue officers, who were on strike since May 28, on Friday announced to call off their strike after an assurance by the Revenue Minister Sukhbinder Singh Sarkaria and the Financial Commissioner Revenue (FCR) Vini Mahajan to reinvestigate the matter pertaining to Bassi Pathana Tehsildar.
Notably, the Tehsildar was arrested by the Vigilance Bureau in an alleged false case regarding embezzlement of funds pertaining to the acquisition of Jheourheri village shamlat land for the international airport in Mohali.
Revenue Officers have also announced to work on Saturday (June 2) to compensate the loss cause to the state and inconvenience to the general public.
“These Revenue Officers have also assured that they, besides attending offices on Saturday which is the weekly holiday, would also work over time on other working days in the larger public interest,” said Revenue Department’s spokesperson.
The Punjab Revenue Officers’ Association, all tehsildars and naib tehsildars have been observing strike to protest the arrest of Bassi Pathana Tehsildar Kuldip Singh. They had threatened to continue the strike till he was released.
The Association alleged that the Vigilance Bureau, on the pretext of holding an inquiry, called Kuldip Singh to the office and arrested him even when the Financial Commissioner (Revenue) has already issued instructions that without holding any departmental inquiry, neither any case can be registered nor any revenue official be arrested.